Water Quality Specialist Trainee (Environmental Trainee)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; Remote; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection seeks a Water Quality Specialist for the Oil and Gas Program. You will inspect sites, support investigations, and help ensure clean water for nearby communities while working with field inspectors and environmental experts.

This full-time field position covers Warren, McKean, Forest, and Elk County. Telework is available when not traveling to project sites, with hours 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or four years of technical experience in environmental science or related field.
• Equivalency of experience and training accepted if within 3 months of graduating.
• Active motor vehicle license may be required.

Responsibilities

• Site Inspection: Conduct inspections of oil and gas operations and document findings using electronic systems.
• Complaint Response: Investigate environmental damage or water supply concerns and work to identify causes and solutions.
• Violation Notification: Notify operators of violations and assist with enforcement actions and related documentation.
• Plan Review: Examine submitted environmental plans and ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Sampling Duties: Collect water, wastewater, gas, and sediment samples following proper procedures and documentation requirements.
• Public Assistance: Provide guidance to citizens and operators regarding environmental laws and regulations.

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field

Four years of technical experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field

Job description

THE POSITION

Would you enjoy a career that helps protect water resources while working directly with field inspectors and environmental experts? The Water Quality Specialist position with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offers an exciting opportunity to safeguard Pennsylvania's natural resources through the Oil and Gas Program. This role allows you to inspect sites, support investigations, and help ensure clean water for nearby communities. You will work with experienced staff in the Oil and Gas Program and learn advanced techniques for monitoring and environmental compliance.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

This position conducts inspections, investigates complaints, and performs sampling activities to ensure compliance with environmental laws through the Oil and Gas Program. As a Water Quality Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Site Inspection: Conduct inspections of oil and gas operations and document findings using electronic systems
• Complaint Response: Investigate environmental damage or water supply concerns and work to identify causes and solutions
• Violation Notification: Notify operators of violations and assist with enforcement actions and related documentation
• Plan Review: Examine submitted environmental plans and work with staff and operators to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Sampling Duties: Collect water, wastewater, gas, and sediment samples following proper procedures and documentation requirements
• Public Assistance: Provide guidance to citizens and operators regarding environmental laws and regulations

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description .

Work Schedule and Additional Information

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This is a field position that will cover projects in Warren, McKean, Forest, and Elk County.
• Telework: You will not report into an in-office location on a regular basis. Instead, you will work from home (telework) when you are not traveling to project sites. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $46,827.00 (before taxes) .
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING & ELIGIBILITY

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements

• Four years of technical experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field ; or
• A bachelor's degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, environmental health, geology, biology, ecology, or a closely related field ; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training .
• Applicants will be considered to have met the educational requirements once they are within 3 months of graduating with a qualifying degree.

Special Requirement

• This position requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.

Other Requirements

• You must meet the PA residency requirement . For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Veterans

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S.
• 7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.